A century and counting: Ukraine's ongoing fight to free itself from Russia

Ukrainians in the capital Kyiv take part in the 2004 "Orange Revolution." The demonstrators protested against what they said were Russian attempts to rig the country's presidential election. Ukrainians say Russia's invasion this year is the latest attempt by Moscow over the past century to maintain control and influence over Ukraine. (Ivan Sekretarev /AP)

The past century in Ukraine has been packed with monumental events — wars, famines, political upheavals. Yet there's a recurring theme that can be boiled down to a single sentence: Ukraine tries to break free from Russia, and Russia refuses to let it go.

"The Russian empire started to expand with Ukraine. In the mind of many Russians, their empire cannot exist without Ukraine. That's why they keep coming back," said Volodymyr Viatrovych, a member of Ukraine's parliament and a prominent historian.